How to Overcome Your Fear of Going Back to School

Have you ever considered getting a second degree? Going for that Masters? Or even just adding some credentials to your resume with some extra coursework?

Returning to school as an adult is always an option—even if it may be an intimidating one. It doesn’t matter how many years it’s been since you’ve been in a classroom, where life has taken you, or what your profession is now. If you want to go back to university, you can.

So what’s stopping you? Getting over some common fears is your first step toward achieving the career boost of having a new certification, or even letters after your name. Here’s a list of common fears and some information to help overcome them:

It’s too expensive.

Tax credits and deductions are sometimes available; some benefits are available only to residents of certain states. Check with your tax preparer or accountant to discuss the options for paying off potential loans—if the deduction offsets the interest, it may be well worth it in the long run, so don’t let dollar signs scare you off. And depending on your situation and your area of work, you may qualify for free job training.

Check with your tax preparer or accountant to discuss the options for paying off potential loans.

My life is too hectic to take classes.

Yes, you have far more responsibilities now than you did right out of college, perhaps even a family, a car payment, a mortgage, and a demanding boss. But you don’t have to go back to school full time; talk to the admissions department at a local university and map out a plan that fits your lifestyle.

Let’s face it, I’m not going to fit in.

Granted, last time you were in college you weren’t thinking about covering grey hairs or getting your kids to practice. What you might not realize is that the last time you were in school, there were “non-traditional” students in your lecture halls. You’re not going back to school to hang out with twenty-year-olds; you’re going back in order to get to the next level.

I haven’t studied in years; what if I can’t cut it academically?

Perhaps you haven’t cracked a textbook in a while, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t been studying and learning. Don’t undervalue the intellectual challenges you’ve experienced on a regular basis over the years; they stretch those brain muscles just as much as hitting the books does.